Abstract: A dressing for treating a tissue site may include a base layer, a sealing member, a first and a second wicking layer, and an absorbent layer. The base layer may have a plurality of apertures and may be adapted to cover the tissue site. The sealing member and the base layer may define an enclosure. The first and the second wicking layer may each be disposed in the enclosure with the absorbent layer positioned between the first and the second wicking layer. A conduit comprised of an absorbent material that is vapor permeable and liquid impermeable may be in fluid communication with the dressing for providing reduced pressure to the dressing. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A catheter pump includes a catheter body having at least one lumen therethrough, and comprising a distal end and a proximal end. An expandable impeller assembly includes an expandable impeller and an expandable cannula coupled to the distal end of the catheter body and housing the expandable impeller, the expandable cannula comprising a substantially straight segment having a distal inlet and a proximal outlet, the substantially straight segment configured to straddle an aortic valve. The catheter body comprises a proximal vessel contact zone and a distal vessel contact zone that are each proximal to the substantially straight segment, the proximal vessel contact zone and distal vessel contact zone configured to provide a force against an aortic arch to stabilize the expandable impeller assembly across the aortic valve.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure and/or instillation fluids to a tissue site. Some embodiments are illustrative of an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure and/or therapeutic solution of fluids to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with sensing properties of fluids extracted from a tissue site and/or instilled at a tissue site. For example, an apparatus includes a dressing interface or connector that includes a pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor embodied on a single pad within the connector and proximate the tissue site to provide data indicative of acidity, humidity, temperature and pressure. Such apparatus includes algorithms for processing such data for detecting leakage and blockage as well as providing information relating to the progression of healing of wounds at the tissue site.

Abstract: A food reflux reducing two-piece nasogastric tube includes a first tube body and a second tube body. The first tube body has a first connector on one end, and a protrusion edge on an outer side of the first connector in adjacent to the first positioning portion. The first connector has a through hole having a seal portion in adjacent to the first positioning portion. The seal portion has a cross break. A convex portion is on an inner edge of the through hole between the seal portion and the first positioning portion. The second tube body has one end provided with a second connector and an insertion combination tube extending therefrom. Two elastic arms extend from an outer side of the second connector and comprise a hook portion respectively. Thus, the second tube body is efficiently connected with and removed from the first tube body.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods of use thereof are described. The device may include a body having a housing that defines a lumen, a piston within the housing, and an actuator operably coupled to the piston, wherein the piston is movable along the lumen by operating the actuator. The device also may include a cartridge insertable into the body and/or a flexible fitting configured for direct application to an eye of a subject.

Abstract: A body side member of an ostomy appliance comprising a cover layer forming a distal surface having one or more openings to allow egression of a releasable material to be shifted between a first position underneath the cover layer to a second position on top of the cover layer in use of the body side member around a stoma of a user.

Abstract: A base plate for a medical appliance includes a top layer; a first adhesive layer with a water soluble or water swellable hydrocolloid; an electrode assembly having a plurality of electrodes; and a monitor interface for connecting the base plate to a monitor device. The monitor interface has a coupling part with an elastically deformable part that allows the coupling part to move relative to the first adhesive layer of the base plate for coupling the monitor device and the base plate.

Abstract: An embodiment of a uterine hemorrhage controlling system comprises a suction module including a suction end coupleable to a pump by a connecting tube, and a sealing module coupled to the suction module. The system may further comprise the pump and a filter coupled to the suction module. A uterine hemorrhage controlling method comprises: shielding a suction module that has been delivered into a uterus; sealing an entrance into the uterus while the suction module is situated within the uterus; applying a negative pressure within the uterus upon activation of a pump; and maintaining the negative pressure within the uterus to induce uterine contraction. The method may further comprise delivering the suction module into the uterus; transmitting bodily fluids, out of the uterus through the suction module, and filtering the bodily fluids.

Abstract: A ureteral catheter for placement in a kidney, renal pelvis, and/or in a ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis of a patient, includes: an elongated tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining at least one drainage lumen extending through the tube, wherein a proximal portion of the elongated tube is essentially free of or free of openings; and an expandable retention portion which defines a three-dimensional shape positioned to maintain fluid flow from the kidney through at least the distal end of the tube and inhibit tissue of the ureter or renal pelvis from occluding the at least one drainage lumen at the distal end of the elongated tube upon application of negative pressure through the drainage lumen, wherein the three-dimensional space defined by the expandable retention portion encloses at least a portion of the distal end of the elongated tube.

Abstract: A balloon retention urinary catheter includes a porous and spongy distal tip. In one method, a polymer is mixed with sacrificial particles and the mixture is molded in the form of the tip, and then cured. The cured tip is then placed in a solvent in which the sacrificial particles elute from the tip but in which the polymer is insoluble. Once the particles elute out of the polymer in the tip, a softer porous polymeric structure results. The tip may be structured to be softer prior to use or for transformation to a softer state once in the bladder.

Abstract: Described herein is a neuroaspiration catheter for removing a blood clot in a blood vessel. The neuroaspiration catheter includes a first tube, a second tube and a wire for guiding the navigation of the catheter. The wire can be navigated to the site of the blood clot, aid the navigation of the catheter, and left in the blood vessel during and after the aspiration. If the aspiration fails, the catheter can be quickly navigated back to the site of the blood clot using the wire as a guide. Also described herein is a method of removing a blood clot using the neuroaspiration catheter.

Abstract: A ureteral catheter is provided, including a drainage lumen including a proximal portion and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis, and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis, the distal portion including a retention portion for maintaining positioning of the distal portion of the drainage lumen, the retention portion including at least two openings on a sidewall of the retention portion for permitting fluid flow into the drainage lumen wherein a total area of a proximal most opening of the at least two openings is less than a total area of more distal opening(s) nearer to the distal end of the drainage lumen, and wherein when negative pressure is applied through the ureteral catheter, fluid is drawn into the ureteral catheter through the at least two openings.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved indwelling urinary catheter of the inflatable type having a unique, low profile device by which to retain the catheter within the bladder, so that urine can be removed therefrom while avoiding obstruction to the descending fetal vertex during the process of labor and delivery. Thus, making it better suited for obstetrical applications. The retaining device consumes less obstructing volume in the bladder than that which would ordinarily be consumed by a conventional Foley-style balloon, whereby both the frequency and severity of fetal vertex obstruction and its resulting increased time of labor, operative delivery and injury to maternal urologic tissue can be reduced. The obstetrical foley retains the tradition Foley-style balloon distal to the improved low-profile laboring balloon for insufflation in the event a surgical delivery by cesarean section is indicated.

Abstract: A negative pressure therapy system is provided for inducing negative pressure in a portion of a urinary tract of a patient, the system including: (a) at least one ureteral catheter configured to be positioned within a ureter and/or kidney of a patient; (b) one or more sensor(s) configured to determine information about urine produced within a urinary tract of the patient; and (c) a controller configured to increase urine production of the patient by adjusting one or more operating parameters of a negative pressure source for inducing negative pressure through the at least one ureteral catheter into the urinary tract of the patient, based at least in part upon the information determined by the one or more sensor(s).

Abstract: Some embodiments have a pump assembly mounted to or supported by a dressing for reduced pressure wound therapy. The dressing can have visual pressure, saturation, and/or temperature sensors to provide a visual indication of the level of pressure, saturation, and/or temperature within the dressing. Additionally, the pump assembly can have a pressure sensor in communication with the flow pathway through the pump, and at least one switch or button supported by the housing, the at least one switch or button being accessible to a user and being in communication with the controller. The pump assembly can have a controller supported within or by the housing, the controller being configured to control an operation of the pump. The pump can be configured to be sterilized following the assembly of the pump such that all of the components of the pump have been sterilized.

Abstract: According to an illustrative embodiment a method to promote healing of a wound is provided comprising contacting the wound with a biologically active composition comprising a lipoic acid derivative and gelatin. In another embodiment a wound dressing is provided comprising a scaffold coated with a biologically active composition comprising a lipoic acid derivative. In a further embodiment, a system is provided for treating a tissue site of a patient, the system comprising a reduced-pressure source to supply reduced pressure, a manifold to distribute reduced pressure to a tissue site and a scaffold coated with a biologically active composition comprising a lipoic acid derivative. Methods for producing such a system and scaffold are also disclosed.

Abstract: A chest drainage system including a collection device configured to receive fluid from the pleural cavity of a patient. A sensor is included to detect a pressure differential in the fluid. A display is configured to display a trend in occurrences of changes in pressure of the fluid over time in predetermined time increments based on a number of detections of pressure differentials that exceed a predetermined pressure differential during each of the predetermined time increments. The trend is correlative to the percentage of time that the patient is deemed to have an air leak in the pleural cavity in the predetermined time increments. The trend is derived from a ratio of the quantity of respiratory cycles of the patient for which the predetermined pressure differential is detected (QRCleak) in the predetermined time increments to the total quantity of respiratory cycles of the patient in respective predetermined time increments (QRCtotal).

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy system includes at least one sensor coupled to a wound dressing for a wound of a patient, and a control circuit. The at least one sensor is configured to output an indication of a displacement of the wound dressing. The control circuit is configured to receive the indication of the displacement of the wound dressing, calculate a therapy parameter corresponding to the indication of the displacement, and output the therapy parameter.

Abstract: A ureteral catheter includes a drainage lumen including a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra and/or bladder and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's kidney, renal pelvis, and/or in the ureter adjacent to the renal pelvis, the distal portion including a retention portion for maintaining positioning of the distal portion of the drainage lumen, the retention portion including two or more openings on a sidewall of the retention portion for permitting fluid flow into the drainage lumen, wherein a number of the openings nearer to a distal end of the retention portion is greater than a number of the opening(s) nearer to a proximal end of the retention portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are example embodiments of methods and systems for inducing drug to thoroughly mix in a patient's vitreous humor. One of the systems includes: a heat transfer pad that transfer heat to or from the eyeball; and a control module electronically coupled to the heat transfer pad for controlling one or more heat transfer elements disposed thereon.